Jurassic Heart Read online

  I placed my hand over hers. “It will happen.”

  “I believe that. Thank you again.” She leaned into me and placed her lips to my cheek.”

  That simple kiss, that innocent kiss shot through every fiber of my being and I stared at her, lost in thought, lost in the moment.

  My mind was consumed with thoughts of taking her, having her confront her own passions for me. Grabbing her hand and whisking her to paradise …

  “Come with me.”

  Willingly she followed, not really questioning as I led her with urgency to my private bathroom on the plane.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  I shut the door and locked it. “I can’t help it. I want you. I want you badly. I can’t wait.”

  “Oh, God, I have been waiting to hear you say that.” Paige lifted off her tee shirt and immediately unclasped the front of her bra, releasing her breasts. “Take me. Take me now.”

  As I lifted my own shirt, she removed those cute little cargo shorts, allowing them to drop to the floor. I took her in my arms, pressing my lips to hers hard. My mouth deeply explored hers as I lifted her to the sink.

  It was happening fast, furiously. I was ready to have her and as I put my body between her legs, I widened my mouth to her neck.

  “Dash,” she called my name. “Dash. Dash.”

  Snap.

  I snapped out of it. My fantasy ended with her calling my name. I was back in the seat of the plane.

  “You okay?” she asked. “You left me for a second. Where’d you go?”

  “I was making love to you,” I answered, without thinking. “I mean …”

  “No. Shh.” She covered my lips with her fingers. “You can tell me all about it when this expedition is over.”

  “I will. If I can wait that long.”

  Paige smiled at me, stood and walked away.

  In a sense, she admitted her feelings for me, at least I think she did. Waiting for the expedition to be over was a goal, but I had a feeling, unless something major happened, neither of us could wait that long.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  PAIGE

 

  Argentina was exactly as I remembered it. Numerous tents erected, workers yelling out in a foreign language, the excavation. We arrived via a limousine, Humvee and I were ready to go, show me to my tent. Then we took a walk up the hill to the rectangular white building. I thought it was a warehouse with small windows, until we went inside. It was our accommodations.

  They were exquisite, and I felt guilty for having air conditioning and a chef to cook us meals while the work crew slept in tents. I didn’t feel guilty about the meals because I knew Dash fed them well.

  Arriving back at the site I felt not only invigorated, but a bit saddened. I thought of my parents and the tragedy that happened there.

  The doors to a new life had opened up for me, I was going to do what I loved to do … follow my father’s footsteps.

  I was given room three, it was wonderful, clean and cool with a private bathroom. I placed my things away and prepared to text Larry that I had arrived. When I turned on my phone, I had received a message from Henry. He wished me luck and told me to be safe.

  It was sweet of him.

  After replying, I decided to go out and check out the site. We weren’t due to dinner for a couple hours. They were setting the tables in the common area, and I saw Herb. He sipped a cocktail as he stared out the door.

  “Not wanting to go out there?” I asked.

  “No, thinking and remembering,” Herb said. “This brings back memories, good and bad.”

  “For me, as well. I loved it here. I loved doing this,” I said. “My parents. Tony.”

  “Ah, Tony. I remember the young love,” Herb stated. “You really liked that boy.”

  “He was strong and handsome. No one has come close to him in my life.”

  A clearing of the throat caught our attention and I turned around. Dash stood there.

  “Maybe I should feel threatened,” Dash said.

  “Why is that?” asked Herb.

  “Tony is here.”

  I believed I gasped. My heart raced and immediately I flashed to the intimate and often raw naked moments we had in my tent. “To … To … Tony.”

  “Tony.” Dash said. “I tried to recreate it all.”

  “Well I doubt you can recreate the romance with me and Tony.,” I said. “He’s probably married with several children.”

  Dash shook his head. “He isn’t. He’s digging in B-4.”

  I tried to curb my enthusiasm. “Really?”

  “It was a surprise,” Dash said. “I knew from watching the show you two had a thing. I thought it would be nice to have him in the chamber when we go back.”

  Immediately I thought of how awkward that would be. Dash and I already shared an immense sexual tension, if Tony and I had the same spark, I would be torn. Then again, having Tony around could be a physically good thing and keep me in check to maintain a professional relationship with Dash until the expedition was over.

  “You should go say hello,” Dash said. “He is dying to see you. B-4 is still in the same place.”

  “Let’s go say hello,” Herb suggested.

  “I’ll be right out,” I said, keeping my eyes on Dash. Once Herb stepped out, I looked curiously at Dash. “You know, this surprises me. I kind of thought you and I …”

  “We do. We will. I hired Tony long before I hired you. But once you came aboard, I thought it would be … interesting.” He smirked. “If you need to resolve, go resolve. I am not threatened. Besides,” he brought his lips close to my ear and whispered. “After tonight, after my plan, you’ll be saying, ‘Tony who?’”

  That made me giggle like a school girl, still a part of me was dying to go see Tony.

  Instantly, thoughts of a hot and spicy reunion raced through my mind and I caught up to Herb who waited outside.

  “I appreciate you coming with me,” I said.

  “I want to see the boy. I remember him well. And if I recall correctly, B-4 is right over there.” He pointed,

  There was a path from the housing area that went past the pool and down to the excavation grounds. As in the past, tiny flags marked the sections and we headed to B-4. One man was there. A rather large man with graying hair and a rear that crept from the back of his pants.

  “I thought Tony was here,” I said.

  “I thought so too,” Herb replied. “Didn’t Dash say it was a surprise. Maybe the surprise is he’s at lunch.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Paige!” a voice shouted. I recognized it. It was Tony. A little older, a little deeper, but Tony nonetheless. My heart raced with excitement and I spun around looking for him.

  “Oh, yeah, the surprise is on you,” Herb said.

  “Huh?”

  I turned around and when I did, the large man who was exposing his fluffy derriere grabbed ahold of me, wrapped his arms around me and swung me around. I was taken aback, perhaps physically a little smothered, but in an instant, I was also swept away by memories. When he set my feet to the ground, I placed my hands to his face. It was still the same handsome face.

  “Tony, I am so excited to see you.”

  “Oh, me too. When I heard Paige Bronavanavanavich was onboard I almost did it for free.”

  I smiled. “And you’re accompanying us on the trip?”

  “I am.”

  “Oh, I am so rude, this is my friend Herb. He’s coming on the trip as well.”

  “I know, Herb.” Tony held out his hands. “Jonesy. So good to see you.”

  “My parents would be proud.” I inhaled deeply raising my shoulders and looked around. That was when I saw it.

  A large square structure set center of an excavated whole. It was covered in a blue cloth.

  “Is that it?” I asked.

  “That’s it,” Tony said. “Set right where your infamous fifth vertebra was found. When we go back, we will see it.”

  A
shiver shot up my spine and I rubbed my arms. I didn’t know what I was more excited for, going back to see the Bronavanasaurus or my parents just one more time.

  DASH

 

  I watched from the deck of our accommodations as the former young lovers reunited. Admittedly, I felt a spark of jealousy. While on the physically attractive scale, Tony was no match for me, he was a man’s man.

  I knew there was something about a blue collared, hands on, big bodied, hardworking man that drove women nuts. Perhaps it was the pheromones in the sweat. I tried to recreate that in lab, capture the potency, but there was nothing like the real thing.

  That was why I got my hands dirty.

  Staring out, I heard the clearing of a throat and looked to my right.

  “Stalking?” Hedlin asked.

  I raised an eyebrow. The sun reflected off the slight shininess of his face. “Why Hedlin, the change in altitude has done wonders, the swelling is down from the Botox, you look a stunning sixty years old.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And no.” I sipped my drink. ‘I am not stalking. I am watching lovers reunite.”

  “Really?”

  “I take it you didn’t watch the television show?”

  “No,” Hedlin replied.

  “You should have.”

  “What do you really know about her?” Hedlin asked.

  “She is the daughter of Sterling Bronavanavanavich, that’s all I need to know.”

  “True. So … we are really doing this. We’re going back in time.”

  “We are.”

  ‘You know, I may not have watched the show,” Hedlin said. “But was a fan of the work. I was a bit envious, too. I always wanted to be the one to discover a new species.”

  “I didn’t realize you had worked in that field.”

  “I didn’t,” said Hedlin. “I funded expeditions.”

  “Oh, same difference.”

  “Yes.” Hedlin raised his glass. “Same difference.”

  “Maybe when we go back you’ll see something new and we’ll know where to dig.”

  “One can only hope. Let me ask you this … what happens if there is a problem?”

  “Whatever do you mean?” I questioned.

  “I mean, what happens if we go back and get stuck?”

  “Won’t,” I said confidently. “I have a fail safe.”

  “And that is?”

  “Doesn’t matter what happens. Time is mainly controlled from here. While we can manually override in case of emergency, the bottom line is, if we touched nothing, we automatically return.”

  “Well then here’s to a successful mission.” He raised his glass.

  I loved Hedlin’s money, but there was something about the man that made my skin feel as if I broke out into a severe case of hives. He made me itch and squirm. He spoke to me and approached me like a man with an ulterior motive, a seedy one. I had to dismiss my thoughts. My focus had to be elsewhere. I had to look to the future, or rather the past, because in a day, that was where we’d be.

  CHAPTER NINE

  PAIGE

 

  The Stegosaurus steak was amazing. Of course, it wasn’t a true dinosaur steak, only a quirky name given to our dinner in honor of our impending trip.

  It cut like butter and melted in my mouth.

  Dash ordered the best meal for us because we would be eating meals from a pouch once we were on our trip. Steak, lobster and deserts so decadent I wanted to go to confession.

  The alcohol flowed, but Dash told us it was one thing that wouldn’t be missing on this trip.

  With the evening still early, I wondered what I would do. I was so excited, yet nervous about the time trip.

  Frog and Sheena were hosting a special meeting. Tips on how to survive by Frog, and medical emergency first aid by Sheena.

  The meeting sounded informative, and I was just about to go when Dash approached me.

  “How are you doing?” he asked. “I know this brings back old memories.”

  “Memories of my parents,” I explained. “So they aren’t all bad.”

  “Speaking of not being bad …. when we get back I want to take you to dinner at the best restaurant in the world, we will jet off for wherever you want to dine.”

  “I’ve always wanted authentic ramen from Japan.”

  “Then Japan it is. We’ll go there.”

  “Well, Dash Winters, are you asking me out on an official first date?”

  “No, I am asking you out on our official second date.”

  “Second date?” I asked.

  “Yes, of course. Because the old fashion man in me believes before we go out on the first date, I need to meet your parents.”

  I froze.

  “Are you ready Paige, for me to meet your parents?”

  “Now?”

  “Now.” He held out his hand.

  More than anything, I was ready.

  I think I skipped like a school girl all the way to the time chamber. Maybe I didn’t skip, but Dash made me feel like a school girl. I giggled at his every word, felt butterflies when he touched me and had the desire to share french fries with him.

  The tarp was lifted from the chamber, but I couldn’t see inside. The interior curtains were closed on half the structure, the rest was dark. Dash opened the sliding door for us to enter and we walked inside. Dash turned on the lights.

  When I stepped in, I felt as if I were walking onto a space ship. Control panel and swivel chairs on two levels. There was a wall behind them.

  “This,” Dash said. “Is our common area. Behind that door,” He pointed. “is a dining and kitchen space, and that leads to the individual quarters. They are small, but we’ll only be needing them for sleeping. The entire structure is made of a thick, bullet proof, see through plastic.”

  “Why bullet proof?”

  “Just a precaution,” he replied. “In case something flies into us as we whiz through time. You know like driving down the highway and something smacks into your windshield.”

  “Ah, yes.”

  “The curtains to the quarters are being installed in the morning before we leave. Unlike these …” He pointed to the main ones. “They’ll be individually controlled and will be able to close them, I designed it so everyone can get a 360 observation of the prehistoric trip. Plus cameras, I mean we wouldn’t want to miss The Bronavanasaurus running our way, would we? And over here …” He grabbed my hand.

  I didn’t mean to do it, but I gasped.

  “Everything alright?” he asked.

  “Yes, yes, it is.”

  He smiled and beckoned me to the control panel. “This is where we launch from. Notice I have it already set for three weeks before the earthquake.”

  I looked down at the panel and saw the date. “How do you know they’ll be here in the site at this time.”

  “The television show. For this trip, we control when we leave and return. For the big one we will be connected to the main frame, which will return us automatically. That way if there are problems we aren’t lost in time.”

  I giggled.

  “What is it?”

  “Just … this reminds me so much of the space craft from the original Lost in Space.”

  “My God, Paige, you know that show?”

  “I love the classics.”

  “Me, too. And I designed this with that show in mind.”

  “Really?” I asked excitedly.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, can I be your June, to your John Robinson?”

  “Don’t you mean, Maureen.” He tapped the tip of my nose. “June was the actress’ name.”

  “Silly me. Who is our Doctor Smith?”

  “Without a doubt it has to be Hedlin.”

  I giggled again. Surely he had to have grown tired of my flirting and infatuation reactions.

  “Are you ready?”

  “I am.”

  He reached around me and pressed a button, an internal thin cur
tain parted enough for us to see though. He must have removed a portion of the exterior. I could see the evening sky and the lights of the complex.

  “And here we go,” he said.

  I was nervous and excited. It was a gift that no one could ever match. To see my father again, to watch my mother walk. There was only the slightest vibration and I watched as dances of lights flashed outside the window, faster and faster and then ….

  We were deep in the site, twenty feet below. I remembered the area well. Multilevel, the camera crew set up their lights.

  “No one can see us?” I asked.

  “No, they can’t. We are watching from a different dimension.” He reached up and turned on the speaker.

  “Sterling,” I heard my mother’s voice. “Over here.” I quivered upon hearing her speak, it had been so long, I had gotten so used to the electronic one, I forgot how strong her voice had been. I basked in the moment, then my father crossed in front of the window. A whimper of emotions escaped me.

  “Go,” Dash said. “Go to the window. Get a closer look.”

  I rushed to the window, my hands smacked against it with childlike enthusiasm. Like watching the first snow.

  So badly I wanted to call to them, make eye contact. But I was given a chance nobody else had ever had. A chance once more to see my father.

  “I had forgotten,” Dash stepped beside me. “They were quite attractive back then.”

  “They were.”

  “Attractive people make good television. Did your father work out?”

  “No. Not at all.”

  “My God, to have those genes …” he looked at me. “You have his brains and his structure.” He paused. “And your mother’s striking beauty and breasts.”

  I lowered my head in a blush.

  “You know, I go on about your father. Sterling Bronavanavanavich this, Sterling Bronavanavanavich that. But I will tell you, I would have loved to have gotten the chance to meet your mother.”

  “She’s still alive.”

  “I mean ... when she walked and talked.”

  “Of course.”

  “Paige,” he whispered in my ear. “I hate to do this. But we must return.”